Veterans Radio

Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tweila Rochell-Cauthen discusses her military experiences and the role of the National Association of Black Military Women, advocating for the service academies to boost the number of minorities admitted so that the number of black officers increases. NABMW filed with the US Supreme Court supporting military academies to use race as a factor in admissions to increase black officers. She talks to host Jim Fausone about the value of military service and the benefits of diversity.

Host Dale Throneberry speaks with Hope Hodge Seck, author of “Prepping for the Next Fight” appearing in the February 2024 issue of Military Officer, a publication of the Military Officers Association of America. Seck is an award-winning investigative reporter covering the military and national defense, and is the former managing editor of Military.com. What all the branches of the military are doing to prepare for the next fight.   Dale also talks with Vietnam-era USMC Veteran Bill Graham, contributor for The VVA Veteran, a publication of Vietnam Veterans of America. Bill recently wrote “Speak Out! The Case for Universal National Service” regarding an alternative to selective service. Read Bill’s full article on The VVA Veteran online The VVA Veteran, a publication of Vietnam Veterans of America

President of the Michigan Air & Space Forces Association, Doug "Odie" Slocum, disucsses his career and the mission of the Michigan AFA.  The retired General and pilot talks about the AFA's pillars of Educationm, Advocacy and Support for our Air & Space Forces.  The newly established Ann Arbor location joins the Sterling Heights chapter of AFA in Michigan.  All are welcome into AFA to learn about what is happening in air and space defense of the country.  BG Slocum talks to host Jim Fausone about the events and purpose of joining AFA.

GET ANSWERS FROM OUR EXPERT PANEL! Dale Throneberry – Founder and Host of Veterans RadioBrig. Gen. Carol Ann Fausone (ret) – Legal Help for VeteransBrian Hayes – Director of Communications, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare SystemDavid Saims – Director, Washtenaw County Veterans Service Dept., MACVC Trustee Missed this month's program? Tune in the last Sunday of the month for our Benefits Program. Send your questions to dale@veteransradio.org

Navy veteran Jenna Carlton, known on social media as The Millennial Veteran, talks about her time in the Navy, transition to a government job, and an opinion piece written for Task & Purpose on the recruiting crisis.  Carlton contends younger vets will not help on the recruiting issue until their transition, mental and physical health issues are addressed by DOD and VA.  She talks to host Jim Fausone about life and military service.

Lt. Commander Will Bowden, USCG (ret), talks about his time in the Coast Guard, law enforcement, pharmaceutical industry and then his pivot to the cannabis industry. He grew up in Santa Cruz, California and has lived in Naples, Florida and Wilmington, Delaware. He has seen the world with the Coast Guard and obtained an MBA, but is no farmer by upbringing. Grasshopper Farms has outdoor grow locations in Michigan, Colorado, and New Jersey. He ties all this together when talking to host Jim Fausone.     The Wounded Warrior Project’s VP of Program Operations and Partnerships, Lt. Col. Tracy Farrell, US Army (ret) talks about her service, Wounded Warrior Project, and the recent  “Women Warriors Report.” Farrell discusses the data collection from 5,000 women warriors, the key findings and recommendations. She also talks with host JimFausone about whether women warriors would join up again.

Jill Newmark discusses 14 Black surgeons who served with the Union Army during the Civil War. She explores their struggles to get trained in surgery, prejudice in society and the military, struggles as Black officers, and overcoming obstacles. Newmark talks with host Jim Fausone about their desire to practice medicine, the status of commission and contract officers, racial inequities, and post-war struggles. Her book is "Without Concealment, Without Compromise: The Courageous Lives of Black Civil War Surgeons."

Zero Day is a non-profit that helps veterans with counseling, housing, job skills, and outdoor therapy; showcasing the power of partnerships and volunteers. Two volunteers, Nate Cropsey and James Dentler, talk with host Jim Fausone about all the activities that Zero Day is involved with to help veterans.

Dr. Rebecca Grant is a national security analyst and the President of IRIS Independent Research. IRIS is a small, woman-owned business that specializes in defense and aerospace research and consulting. Initially, Rebecca began her professional career with RAND in Santa Monica, California. Likewise, she also worked at Pentagon for three years as the Air Staff on the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Apart from that, Rebecca is a guest speaker on airpower and technology at different venues from active-duty Air Force units to Wall Street investors. She has also lectured at the USAF’s Air University and for the air forces of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, and Australia. On top of that, Rebecca has made television appearances as an expert on national security for FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox Business, and OANN. She has also written over 100 articles for Air Force Magazine. Topics discussed include: China and their place in today's world, the war in Ukraine, North

Where have our heroes gone? What it takes to be a hero, why war heroes matter, and why Americans should never forget our heroes. Join host Gary Lillie from this 2007 interiew. Our guest is, self-proclaimed hero expert and author, Gary W. Toyn. He is the author of The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Does the media reject America’s war heroes? Why don’t school children learn about America’s war heroes? Why don’t we hear more about the heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan? What can we do/

John Faunce talks about the creation and mission of Team RWB to connect today's veterans with activities like rucks and runs. He talks to host Jim Fausone about the future and the need for Team Red, White, and Blue.

Our Community Salutes was started in 2009 by Dr. Ken Hartman to acknowledge high school kids that were enlisting in the military and support that family decision. This grassroots effort coordinated by OCS holds events around the country to give the enlistees their own "signing day." It can be as simple as a presentation and pizza or an elaborate affair with speakers. OCS has grown over the years to offer a variety of support materials for these local programs. Visit Our Community Salutes website to learn more. Ken talks to host Jim Fausone about OCS and its future and the need to support recruitment efforts by the military.

What do Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe and Toby Keith have in common? They have all performed on a USO tour. Since World War II the USO has been sending entertainers around the world to entertain our troops. But the USO is much more than that. Listen to this Veterans Radio program from December 22, 2012 with our guest USO Senior Vice President and Air Force Veteran John Hanson. Host Dale Throneberry talked with John about the history of the USO and how it has changed over the years.

Allison Jaslow, CEO of IAVA, talks about Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the 2023 IAVA member survey, issues for women veterans, and the need for more emphasis on military recruiting. Jaslow discusses current issues with host Jim Fausone.

Dale Throneberry interviews the late Dr. Guy Stern (Jan 4, 1922 – Dec 7, 2023) in an episode that originally aired in February, 2021. Dr. Guy Stern was a World War II Ritchie Boy and recently served as director of the Harry and Wanda Zekelman International Institute of the Righteous at the Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus. For more information about the original interview, please visit the interview page. Host Jim Fausone also interviews the CEO and Founder of the NVBDC, Keith King, in another archived episode. The National Veterans Business Development Council is the original Veteran Owned Business Certification organization developed by Veterans, for Veterans. Nick Busse, Military Engagement Manager at Leaf Home™, today announced the recipients of its third consecutive stair lift giveaway for deserving veterans. The stair lift giveaway is just one element of Leaf Home's 360-degree approach to supporting veterans, which is an increasingly large focus for the company as it has grown. Leaf Ho

Keith King, Founder and CEO of the National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC), talks about their 2023 highlights! He explains the benefits that 2000+ certified veteran-owned businesses have received and the value of its 175 NVBDC corporate members. King highlights the $4.3 Billion that is spent by corporations in the Billion Dollar Roundtable with veteran-owned businesses with host Jim Fausone. Veterans Radio encourages you to check out NVBDC.org.

Join host Jim Fausone for this week’s program! Chris Cauley, recently appointed Executive Director of the John Dingell Detroit VA Medical Center, talks about his background, commitment to veterans health care, the challenges at Detroit VAMC and what his team is doing to improve customer service and access to outstanding health care for veterans. He talks to host Jim about the current top three issues he is addressing. Army Veteran Richard (ChubZ) Werabelski was medically discharged after an RPG explosion in Afghanistan resulted in a TBI & PTSD. The transition back to civilian life was hard. He had to deal with the VA, being unable to work in his prior career, a house fire and insurance battle, bankruptcy, COVID, and other hurdles. ChubZ talks to host Jim Fausone about how giving back during COVID by cooking meals for first responders led to being an entrepreneur and having a BBQ food business at fairs, festivals and catering. 

Michael DeMos runs two marketing businesses after a sales career and time in the Army. Mike explains how he received his college education via an ROTC scholarship and talks about his 5 years in the Army as a Chemical Officer. Mike gives candid advice about starting his own business and working to help small businesses grow their customer base. He talks to host Jim Fausone about lessons learned over a career in business.

Join host Dale Throneberry and his guests from Operation Song. Veterans Roger Blackwood and songwriter Wil Nance. How did their song "Was It Worth It" come about.  Author Andrew Biggio discusses his book "The Rifle". An amazing collection of stories from World War II veterans and the connection with the M1 Garard Rifle. Meet some of the Veterans Author Andrew Biggio has encountered in a his years of working with the Greatest Generation.

Air Force veteran Crystal Wiggins is the program manager for the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture's Veterans Urban Farm. She explains her background, the Veterans Farm which is in its fourth year growing all types of produce that gets donated to a VA hospital, student veterans, and homeless veterans. About 15,000 pounds are produced by volunteers helping out on less than one acre in production. Crystal talks to host Jim Fausone about the value of working the ground and the resulting end product that addresses food insecurity for many groups.